Several charges have been filed against four warehouses for alleged smuggling and hoarding of rice, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
In his speech in Taguig, Marcos said the rice warehouses violated the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Rice Tariffication Law, and Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.
"Ang San Pedro Warehouse, Blue Sakura Agrigrains Corp., FS Rice Mill, at Gold Rush Rice Mill ay kasalukuyang haharap sa patong-patong na kaso dahil sa kanilang ginagawa," he said.
The President underscored that the illegal acts of the four rice warehouses have no place in "Bagong Pilipinas."
"Bagong Pilipinas na po tayo ngayon, at atin susugpuin ang mga hindi lumalaban ng patas. Walang puwang sa lipunan ang nanlalamang at nang-aapi sa kapwa," he said.
In the past months, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other government officials have conducted a series of raids and inspections on warehouses that are keeping suspected smuggled rice.
This was conducted in adherence to the directive of Marcos, who also sits as the Agriculture Secretary.
Following his speech, the President announced that he had lifted the mandatory price ceiling on regular and well-milled rice in the local markets nationwide.
